A YOUNG Orange woman will have to continue to walk several kilometres to and from work after failing in a bid for the courts to be lenient over her mid range drink-driving charge.
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Sally Alderton, 28, had her licence confiscated on the spot by police on May 25 after she attempted to drive away from a party in Amaroo Crescent while under the influence of alcohol.
Alderton told the court she was trying to protect her sister by getting her away from the party after indications fighting was about to break out.
However police, who had already been called to the scene by neighbours, arrived just as Alderton was preparing to drive away.
In police evidence the arresting officers said when they shone their headlights on Alderton’s vehicle they could see the two women in the front seat of the vehicle swap seats and when they approached the vehicle Alderton’s sister pulled the keys from the ignition throwing them across to the passenger side of the vehicle.
The court was told Alderton is self sufficient with employment and her own unit but with living expenses was unable to afford taxi fares to and from work at a fast food outlet in Bathurst Road.
Despite trying to find someone to take her to and from work she was unable to rely on anyone.
After undergoing a breath analysis at Orange police station Alderton told police she had been drinking cask wine on the night but wasn’t sure how much she had consumed.
The accused wrote a letter that was tendered in her defence asking for another chance and expressing her profound regret for the incident.
Her employer also sent a reference to the court saying Alderton was a hard worker.
“But there’s no glory in any of this,” relieving magistrate Bruce Williams told the accused.
Alderton was disqualified from driving for six months.